V/  Q 


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U[nmnn*$  tuition  QQissiunm  y jSorirly. 

Hospital  Series  III. 


OUR  LITTLE  SLAVE  GIRL. 

ONE  bright  morning  in  Shanghai,  a young  girl  in  the  depths 
of  poverty,  was  brought  to  the  Margaret  Williamson 
Hospital,  covered  with  rags  and  scars,  a sorrowful  pitiable  spec- 
tacle. Her  age  was  given  as  sixteen,  but  she  was  so  diminutive 
that  it  seemed  impossible  not  to  consider  her  a child.  In  fact 
her  name  Ah  Noii  meant  simply  “ a child,”  for  no  one  had  called 
her  by  the  endearing  word  “ Sunshine  ” or  “ Little  Pearl  ” given 
often  to  Chinese  daughters. 

Some  years  ago,  she  had  been  purchased  as  a future 
daughter-in-law  for  thirty  dollars  ! and  according  to  Chinese 
custom  until  the  marriage  takes  place,  was  considered  a slave. 
To  understand  what  this  means,  we  will  listen  to  the  words  of 
one  of  our  Medical  Missionaries. 

“ When  a little  slave  comes  into  the  family,  she  is  the  butt 
of  the  children,  as  well  as  the  mistress.  They  lead  her  into  mis- 
chief, and  if  she  will  not  be  led  by  them,  the  children  beat  her. 
Is  it  any  wonder  that  her  future  husband,  seeing  her  so  despised 
and  helpless,  ill-treats  her  in  his  turn  ? The  food  of  these 
daughters-in-law  is  of  the  poorest,  and  they  sleep  where  they  can. 
They  must  be  the  last  ones  up  at  night,  the  first  ones  in  the 


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morning,  and  if  they  are  useless  or  sick,  are  left  on  the  road  to 
beg  or  die,  or  it  may  be  are  dropped  at  the  Hospital,  with  the 
understanding  that  they  have  just  been  found  and  belong  to  no 
one.  ” 

A woman  whom  Ah  Noii  called  “Aunt”  took  care  of  her 
until  her  betrothal  period  had  passed.  Meantime  the  wretched 
child  being  seriously  ill,  came  under  the  care  of  our  skilful  Med- 
ical Missionaries,  and  passed  through  a successful  operation. 
As  the  days  went  by,  the  loving  attentions  she  received,  trans- 
formed the  wan  melancholy  girl  into  a bright  cheerful  maiden, 
whose  sunny  face,  and  sweet  attractive  manners  made  her  a bene- 
diction. Alas  ! no  one  came  to  the  Hospital,  to  inquire  for  this 
poor  slave-girl,  and  as  the  days  passed  into  months,  at  last  it  was 
found  that  not  only  were  all  her  own  relatives  dead,  but  those  of 
the  heathen  man  to  whom  she  was  betrothed.  What  was  to  be 
done  ? 

By  this  time  Alt  Noii  had  become  very  helpful  to  the 
Matron  of  the  Hospital,  for  not  only  was  she  eager  to  assist,  but 
quick  to  render  assistance,  and  her  unbound  feet  enabled  her 
to  speed  on  many  an  important  errand.  Her  tenderness  to  the 
patients,  and  her  gentle  refined  ways,  were  a marvel  to  every 
one  who  knew  of  her  ignorant  surroundings,  in  a wretched  home 
where  no  windows  let  in  light  on  its  bare  mud  floor. 

At  last  the  thought  came  “ Why  not  purchase  the  girl  for 
an  assistant  ?”  Many  kind  hearts  in  America  quickly  respond- 
ed to  the  half  expressed  wish,  but  before  arrangements  could  be 
made,  friends  in  Shanghai  presented  her  to  the  Hospital. 

Every  morning  she  found  her  way  to  our  Bridgman  Mem- 
orial School,  to  learn  the  important  branches  of  an  elemental 


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Chinese  education,  and  the  remainder  of  her  busy  day  was  de- 
voted to  loving  service  in  the  Hospital  and  Dispensary. 

Soon  Ah  Noii  became  interested  in  the  Bible  class  at  the 
Hospital,  and  listened  eagerly  to  the  preaching  of  our  gifted 
Chinese  Bible  woman  Mrs.  Tae,  as  she  expounded  /few  things 
and  old,  out  of  the  word  of  God.  Her  heart  longed  to  prove 
how  deeply  she  felt  the  joy  of  becoming  the  Saviour's  witness  in 
her  heathen  land,  and  a happy  day  was  it  for  her,  and  all  the  Hos- 
pital Missionaries,  when  she  received  the  rite  of  baptism.  A 
companion  difficult  to  control,  and  who  had  often  looked  down 
upon  Ah  Noii,  was  so  impressed  by  her  consecration,  that  she  too 
gave  her  heart  to  the  Lord,  and  uttered  a touching  prayer  for 
heavenly  benediction. 

Two  days  passed  in  helpful  service,  and  our  slave-girl 
evinced  a steadfastness  of  purpose,  and  a strength  of  character, 
hardly  to  be  expected  in  one  so  retiring.  The  wedding-day 
approached,  and  loving  hearts  who  watched  Ah  Noii’s  develop- 
ment, provided  gladly  the  gifts  for  personal  and  household  use, 
which  no  Chinese  bride  could  do  without. 

At  last  the  Dispensary  where  the  service  of  our  little 
assistant  had  been  so  cheerfully  rendered,  became  the  scene  of 
a gay  bridal. 

Ah  Noii  after  the  painful  mysteries  of  a Chinese  bride’s 
toilette,  appeared  decked  in  elaborately  embroidered  garments, 
with  the  wedding  helmet  laden  with  imitation  jewels.  The  in- 
dispensable red  crepe  veil,  modestly  concealed  her  sweet  interest- 
ing face,  filled  with  emotion  as  the  ceremony  came  to  a close, 
and  the  parting  followed.  Tender  were  the  farewells  to  the  mis- 
sionaries, who  had  made  her  life  worth  living,  and  genuine  were 


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the  tears  Ah  Noii  shed,  as  she  crossed  the  threshold  of  the  Hos- 
pital, which  had  been  her  only  happy  home. 

An  untried  future  awaits  our  little  bride,  a slave  no  longer, 
but  she  needs  more  than  ever,  the  prayers  of  those  who  have 
loved  and  watched  over  her,  that  her  home  may  be  a centre  of 
Christian  influence. 

And  thus  has  one  immortal  soul,  precious  as  ours  in  the 
sight  of  our  redeemer,  been  rescued  from  slavery  and  taught 
the  way  of  blessedness,  through  the  widening  far  reaching  in- 
fluence of  the  Margaret  Williamson  Hospital.  You  who  have 
given  and  worked  with  us,  are  you  not  rewarded  ? Can  we  not 
ask  those  who  have  never  aided  in  this  work,  if  it  is  not  a price- 
less investment,  to  take  part  in  a Hospital,  which  gave  relief 
and  solace  to  21,970  patients  in  1891  ? An  endowed  bed  in  our 
Hospitals,  Margaret  Williamson,  Wells  Williams  and  Stevens 
Maternity  Ward,  costs  $600. 

Have  you  no  friend  whose  memory  is  dear  to  you,  whose 
name  you  would  like  to  associate  with  this  charity  which  reaches 
suffering  bodies  and  sin-sick  souls  ? 

Think  of  this  opportunity.  ■ S.  D.  D. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  THE  WOMAN’S  UNION  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY. 

President , Mrs.  Henry  Johnson. 

Corresponding  Secretary , Miss  S.  D.  DoREMUS. 

Assistant  Treasurer , Elizabeth  R.  STONE. 

Checks  payable  to  the  Woman’s  Union  Missionary  Society. 

The  Missionary  Link  is  a monthly  periodical  in  the  interests  of  the  Society. 


